iSpy vs MotionPlus
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted video surveillance options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | iSpy | MotionPlus |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 58 · Fair | 9 · At risk |
| Status | Actively maintained | Archived |
| Category | Video Surveillance | Video Surveillance |
| License | LGPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | C# | C++ |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 2,048 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal | bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,624 | ★ 367 |
| First released | 2007 | 2020 |
| Replaces | Blue Iris | Blue Iris, ZoneMinder |
What are iSpy and MotionPlus?
iSpy
iSpy is open-source video surveillance software for Windows that turns cameras and microphones into a monitoring system. It supports motion detection, alerts, and remote access through a companion service.
- Motion detection and alerts
- Audio monitoring
- Plugin support
- Remote access
MotionPlus
MotionPlus is the next-generation continuation of the Motion video surveillance software, written by a longtime Motion developer. It monitors video signals from cameras and detects motion to trigger recordings and events.
- Motion-triggered recording
- Multiple camera sources
- Web control interface
- Event scripting
iSpy vs MotionPlus: key differences
The biggest difference is maintenance: MotionPlus's repository is archived and no longer developed, while iSpy is actively maintained. ISpy is written in C#, while MotionPlus is built with C++. Licensing differs — LGPL-3.0 for iSpy versus GPL-3.0 for MotionPlus. MotionPlus is the lighter option, starting around 256 MB of RAM against 2,048 MB for iSpy. ISpy is the more established project (first released 2007), while MotionPlus arrived in 2020. ISpy has the considerably larger community, at 1,624 GitHub stars versus 367.
Why pick each one
Choose iSpy if…
- Long-established
- Many camera integrations
Watch out for
- Windows-only
- Superseded by Agent DVR
Choose MotionPlus if…
- Lightweight and flexible
- Active development
Watch out for
- Configuration heavy
- No bundled AI detection
Frequently asked questions
Is iSpy or MotionPlus better?
Neither is universally better. iSpy has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are iSpy and MotionPlus free and open-source?
Yes. iSpy is licensed under LGPL-3.0 and MotionPlus under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run iSpy and MotionPlus with Docker?
iSpy: check the project docs for container support. MotionPlus: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, iSpy or MotionPlus?
MotionPlus has the smaller minimum footprint at 256 MB of RAM, compared to about 2,048 MB for iSpy. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.